Thill-coupling



No. 621,926. 'Patentd Mar. 28,1899.

w. A. LAPP,

THILL coumue;

(Application fllad July 21, 189B.) (No Model.)

ama I ATENT FFICE.

XVILLIAM A. LAPP, OF STEPHENTOVN, NEWV YORK.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,926, dated March 28, 1899.

' Application filed July 21, 1898. serial No. 686,529. (No model.)

and readily attached to or detached from thevehicle and when attached to the latterbeing positively held from accidental disconnection therefrom, the device being applicable to the ordinary thill-coupling now in use and effectively preventing wear and consequently rattling of the parts.

Vith the above object in view my invention consists in a clip having forwardly-extending arms,between which a coupling-iron is pivoted, said iron being provided with avertical passage to receive a downwardly-projecting pin carried by the end of the thill-iron, a loop arranged upon the pivotal bolt of the couplingiron and engaging a notch in the pin, and a forwardly and upwardly extending springarm at its free end engaging beneath the thill and supporting the same.

The invention consists in the novel details of construction hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly referred to in the claims, and clearly illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle having myinvention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the axle and thill, showing my coupling in position. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, A indicates the axleclip,constructed and secured in position upon the axle in the usual manner and provided with the forwardly-projecting arms B, as in the ordinary construction of thill-coupling. A coupling-iron (l is provided at its inner end with a transversely-extending passage, through which the pivotal bolt D passes, pivoting said iron between the arms B. Said coupling-iron is formed at its outerend with a circular portion E,formed with a Vertically-extending passage to receive a pin F, extending downwardly from the thill-iron G. A springwire rod is formed at one of its ends with a loop H, by means of which it is positioned upon the pivotal bolt between the nut I and one of the arms B. Said rod is then curved to extend around to the opposite arm B,where it is formed wit-h a plurality of convolutions J, through which the pivotal bolt extends, the latter being elongated for that purpose and receiving the nuts K, which retain said convolutions thereon. Thus a downwardly and forwardly extending spring-loop L isformed which is adapted to engage the notched outer end of the pin F, as illustrated in Fig. 2. From the said convolutions the wire rod is curved forwardly and upwardly to form an arm M,which at its upper end is formed with a loop N, which constitutes a finger-hole for disconnecting the laterally-extending end 0 of said arm from the thill-iron. This laterally-extending portion is turned upwardly at its extremity to form a catch, which enters a perforation P in the thill-iron.

When it is desired to disconnect the thills through the medium of the finger-piece N,the catch is disengaged from the thill, when the latter maybe readily detached from the cou pling-iron, as will be understood. The above-described coupling is a very durable one,the only Wear being upon the pivot-bolt, which may be readily replaced at anormal expense. It will be seen that when attached to the vehicle the thills are positively held from accidental disengagement therefrom, but that the same may be very quickly and readily attached to or detached from said vehicle when desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatI claim as new,and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a-coupling-iron pivoted in the arms or ears of the clip connected to the axle and formed with a vertical passage, of athill-iron carrying a pin extending through said passage, a loop carried by the pivotal pin of the coupling-iron and adapted to engage said pin, and a spring-arm also mounted upon said pivotal pin and adapted to support the thill, substantially as set forth.

2. In a thill-coupling,the combination with the clip having forwardly-projecting arms, of a coupling-iron pivoted between said arms,

having a vertical passage formed therein, a thill-iron having a pin projecting through said passage, and a Wire rod having a loop formed at one end through which the pivotal pin 0f the coupling-iron extends, said rod .eurved around to the other side of the forwardly-projecting arms and formed with convolutions through which said pivotal pin passes, thus forming a forwardly and down- Io Wardly extending loop which engages said pin, said wire rod extending forwardly and upwardly from said convolutions to form a spring-arm, having its upper end bent to extend beneath the thill and support the same, substantially as set forth.

\VM. LAPP.

Witnesses:

ETNA J ONES, JOHN W. BROWN. 

